In today's Gospel, we learn about how Jesus encourages the apostles to take time for rest, reflection, and renewal as they return from their ministry of preaching and healing.
Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them,“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers,and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the townsand arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIEIFgSBses (Credit to Catholic Kids Media)
Say: What happened just now is what happens to us after a long day of activity. Each day we are busy doing many good and fun activities. At the end of the day, we are tired and need time to rest. What are some of the things you do at the end of the day to help you rest? (quiet time with family, reading, listening to quiet music, praying, and so on)
Say: In today’s Gospel we learn that Jesus and his disciples also needed to find time to rest after a busy day.
Ask: What does Jesus want to do with his disciples? (He wanted to go away from the crowds and rest.) Are they able to do this? (No, the crowds follow them.)
Say: Jesus knew that his disciples were tired, and he wanted to spend some quiet time with them. But they weren’t able to do that on this day because the crowds kept following them. Jesus also wants to spend quiet time with us, and he invites us to do this in our prayer. Now that Jesus is with God in heaven, he is able to be with us whenever we pray. As we settle in at the end of the day, we can spend time with Jesus in prayer.
Conclude by teaching the children the Evening Prayer and praying it together. Encourage the children to pray before they go to sleep each night.
Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
